Box for holding tape cartridges

ABSTRACT

Cartons for holding and displaying large and small tape cartridges in a manner that permits unrestricted browsing while resisting theft. The cartons being too wide for insertion into a man&#39;&#39;s vest pocket and too long for concealment under a man&#39;&#39;s arm. Bottom retainers being positioned within the cartons, supporting the cartridges at the upper ends of the cartons in alignment with display apertures. Side retainers being formed within the cartons allowing a carton to be used which is wider than the smaller cartridges. The side retainers allowing cartons of the same width to be used both for the larger cartridges and the smaller cartridges, so that they fit well into the same size display stand.

United States Patent Sandel 1451 July 1 1, 1972 [54] BOX FOR HOLDINGTAPE 3,057,466 10/1962 Blonder et al. ..206/45. 19

CARTRIDGES 3,111,222 11/1963 Mueller, Jr. 3,116,825 1 1964 Thomas...[72] Inventor: Herbert N. Sande], 200 N. Bnstol Avenue, 3,298,504 H1967Caner L98 M89198, Cahfi 9049 3,302,779 2/1967 Sparks 221 Filed: Sept.22, 1969 3,033,356 5/1962 Meyerson ..206/45.31 3,587,837 6 1971 Smith etal ..206/45.14 21 Appl. No.: 859,787

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 52 US. (:1. ..206/45.14, 206/45.31,206/DIG. 36, 27004 30 11 1930 Australia ..206 45.31

229 27 [5 l Int. Cl ..B65d 5/50 Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair [58]Field of Search ..206/45. 14, 45.16, 45.17, 45.31, Assistant in r-StevenE- Lipman 206/52, 38; 229/27, 37, 39 B Attorney-Lindenberg, Freilich &Wasserman [56] References Cited ABSTRACT Cartons for holding anddisplaying large and small tape car- UNITED STATES PATENTS tridges in amanner that permits unrestricted browsing while 1,673,535 6/1928 Sheehy..206/45.l6 resisting theft. The cartons being too wide for insertioninto a 1,899,547 2/1933 Addis et a1. 206/45. 14 man's vest pocket andtoo long for concealment under a man's 2,314,721 3/1943 Lowenstein.....35/1 m- Bottom retainers being positioned within the n 2,643,8116/1953 Bolding 206/45.19 x qpp s h cerlrldges at the upper 94 9fthqwtons 111 2,654,470 10/1953 Borucki ....206/45. 14 ahgnment withdisplay aperturesslde retamers 9 8 formed 2,71 1,819 6 1955 Vander Lugt,Jr... ....206 45. 14 Within the cartons allowing a carton to he usedwhich is Wider 2,738,056 3/1956 Heller ....206/45.31 than the Smallercamdges- The Side retainers allowing 2,755,982 6/1956 Vander Lugt, Jr.....229/19 tons Ofthe Same width to he used both for the largercartridges. 2,937,743 5/1960 Buttery et al. ....206/45.14 and the small"cartridges that they fit the Same 2,946,433 6/1960 Hennessey........206/45. 19 W dtsPlaY Stand- Brown 6 4.40

32M 68) 7 5 --5z 64J 66 c 62 BOX FOR HOLDING TAPE CARTRIDGES BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates toboxes.

2. Description of the Prior Art Tape records, particularly those in theform of small cartridges, have gained wide acceptance as substitutes fordisctype records. Currently, two types of cartridges are especiallypopular, the larger one being referred to as a cartridge and the smallerone often being referred to as a cassette. These cartridges are oftenmerchandised in self-service record stores or departments in the sameway as disc-type records, by stacking them in a manner to encourageunrestricted customer browsing. However, the small size of thesecartriges allows them to be easily slipped into a pocket or purse, andtheft losses can become very high. The cartridges could be displayed inlocked cases for removal only by sales personnel, but this can greatlyreduce sales.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is toprovide means for merchandising tape cartridges in a manner that permitsunrestricted browsing while resisting theft.

Another object is to provide an economical yet attractive holder fortape cartridges which displays both sides of the cartridge, yet whichreduces the possibility of theft.

In accordance with the present invention, an attractive and low-costcontainer is provided for the merchandising of tape cartridges or othersmall but valuable merchandise. The container is constructed of a sheetof cardboard or the like which is bent into a box having an aperture fordisplaying the merchandise, the box being much larger than themerchandise to hamper concealment and therefore reduce the possibilityof theft.

In one embodiment of the invention, a container is provided which isuseful for holding especially small cartridges, or cassettes. Thecontainer is in the form of a long, thin box with a pair of aperturesfor displaying both sides of a cassette, both apertures being formed soas to leave a pair of flaps at each aperture. One pair of flaps holdsthe cassette at the end of the box where the apertures are located,while the other pair of flaps serve as side retainers to hold thecassette away from the edges of the box. The side retainers allow a boxto be used which is wider than the cassettes. This allows boxes of thesame width to be used both for the larger cartridges and the smallercassettes, so that they both fit well into the same size display stand.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity inthe appended claims. The invention will be best understood from thefollowing description when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of acartridge container constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, shown with a cartridge therein;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the cartridge container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the cartridge container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cartridge container of FIG. 1, shownin an open configuration and without a cartridge therein;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a sheet of cardboard cut into a shape forfolding into the cartridge container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cartridge container similar to that ofFIG. I, but for a larger size cartridge;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a sheet of cardboard for forming a cartridgecontainer in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a container of the type which can beformed by the sheet of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10l0 of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a sheet of cardboard for forming a cartridgecontainer in accordance with still another embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a container of the type which can beformed by the sheet of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1-5 illustrate acartridge container 10 suitable for holding a small cartridge orcassette 12 to reduce the possibility of theft. The cassette l2typically measures about 4 X 2 74 X V4 inch, which allows them to beeasily slipped into a pocket or purse or concealed under the arm, by ashop lifter. The cartridge container 10 has a length L of about 12inches which hampers its concealment in a pocket or purse or under thearm, thereby reducing the temptation of theft. Generally a length of atleast about 10 inches is sufficient to make concealment very difficultfor a man or woman who is not especially prepared for such theft. Insome cases, a man can slip even a l2 inch box into a vest pocket andconceal it. However, while vest pockets are typically about 5 inches inwidth, they can easily receive a la-inch thick box only if the box isless than 4 inches in width. The container 10 has a width of slightlymore than 4 inches to prevent rapid insertion in an ordinary vestpocket.

The container allows effective display of the cassette to facilitatemerchandising, by the provision of apertures 14 and 16 at its front andrear faces, to display the title and list of the contents and otherdescriptive material generally contained on the faces of the cassette.The cartridge container, which provides an effective display of thecassette while reducing the likelihood of theft, is constructed so as toenable production at low cost.

The cartridge container is constructed of a single main sheet ofcardboard having the form illustrated in FIG. 5. After folding the sheetand pasting together a pair of edges to form the container of FIG. 4, acassette is inserted, and the container is closed. The cassette 12 has athickness which is nearly equal to the thickness T of the container, butit has a width W and height H which are less than those of thecontainer. In order to hold the cassette firmly in place againstsideward and endward shifting, the container is provided with threeretainers 26, 28 and 30 which abut the opposite sides and the bottom ofthe cassette. In addition, a top retainer 32 is provided which hampersremoval of the cassette through the top even when the top flap is open,to reduce the likelihood of a person slipping out the cassette from thecontainer to steal it.

The main sheet illustrated in FIG. 5 comprises a rear face or face wall24, a front wall 22, and three sides or side walls 34, 36 and 38 each ofwhich is in the form of a sheet. The inner surfaces of the walls areshown in FIG. 5. When the sheet is folded to form the container, thefolds form the edges E of the container which defines the edges of thefaces and sides. The side walls 34 and 38 are designed to overlap eachother and to be held together by an adhesive applied between them. Upperand lower closing flaps 40 and 42 and side tabs 44 are provided forclosing the ends of the container. The apertures 14 and 16 in the frontand rear walls are formed by slitting the sheet so as to leave flapswhich can form the retainers 26, 28, 30 and 32. When the retainer flapsare folded to the positions shown in FIG. 4, they leave apertures 14 and16 through which the faces of the cassette are displayed.

The rear aperture 16 is formed by slits 46, 48 and 50 at the top, thebottom, and vertically along the middle of the aperture. This leaves thetwo side retainers 26, and 28. In addition, four vertically extendingperforation lines 52, 54, 56 and 58 are formed to facilitate folding.When the side retainers are folded to the configuration shown in FIG. 4,the inner portions 26I and 28I of the side retainers lie at a positionto abut the sides of the cartridge while the outer portions 260 and 280extend along the front wall 22 to the sides 34 and 36 of the container.The outer portions 260 and 280 do not have to be glued or otherwiseattached to the front wall.

The aperture 14 in the front wall is formed by a pair of slits 60, 62 oneither side of the aperture and a pair of horizontally extending slits64 and 66, the space between slits 64 and 66 being discarded duringmanufacturing. In addition, seven perforation lines 65, 67, 68, 70, 72,74 and 76 are provided to facilitate folding of the retainers. The lowerretainer 30 is placed in the configuration of FIG. 4 by merely foldingit so that portion 301 extends down along the front wall 22, portion 30Mextends to the rear wall, portion 30C extends up the rear wall, andportion 300 extends like a flap over the rear wall. The upper retainer32 is folded up to the position of FIG. 4 prior to insertion of acassette into the container. After a cassette is inserted, the portion32M is folded over the top of the cassette and the portion 320 is tuckeddown between the rear wall 24 and the rear face of the cassette. Theside tabs 44 and upper flap 40 may then be closed.

Accordingly, the cassette container 10 is constructed from a singlesheet of cardboard and it can be manufactured in a simple manner. Theuse of the long, wide, container reduces the likelihood of theft, sinceit is hard to conceal. Although a person can open the container toremove the cassette, and then steal the cassette, the fact that he couldbe observed opening it and the more deliberate act involved in openingit reduces the impulse to pilfer.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cartridge container 90 which is designed to hold alarger, S-track tape cartridge 92. The cartridge 92 typically measuresabout inches x 4 inches x /8 inch, which is larger than the cassette.However, the container 90 has a width X and a length L which areidentical to those of the cassette container 10 of FIG. 1. Thus, bothkinds of containers can be stored in the same size storage rack wherethe containers are held in rows, one behind the other. The width X ofboth containers is chosen which is only slightly greater than the width(generally 4 inches) of the large cartridge so that the container 90does not require any side retainers comparable to retainers 26, 28 whichare used for the cassette container. The cartridge container 90 does,however, utilize and retainers similar to retainers 30, 32 of thecassette container. As mentioned above, a 4-inch box width is generallysufficient to prevent a person from slipping the box in a vest so it isnot necessary to provide a container much wider than the largercartridge.

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate a container for cassettes which is constructed inaccordance with another embodiment of the invention. In this container100, the front aperture 102 is cut so as to remove the cardboard panel,instead of using the cardboard panel to form end retainers. In order tosupport the lower end of a cassette, a separate non-integral endretainer 104 is used. The end retainer 104 is formed by a panel ofcardboard with several perforation lines that form a portion 104A thatis glued to the front wall 106, a portion 104D that is glued to the sidewall 108, and portions 10413 and 104C in between them. The retainer 104is initially flat, but it assumes a zig-zag shape, as shown in FIG. 10,when the cardboard sheet forming the container is folded into a boxshape. Then the retainer l04.abuts the bottom edge of a cassette 100 tohold it in position at the top of the container.

The container 100 has side retainers 110, 112 formed from the rearaperture 114 in the same way as the retainers of the container ofFIG. 1. No top retainer corresponding to retainer 32 is used, but thecontainer M0 is otherwise similar to that of FIG. 1. It is sometimeseasier to apply the separate end retainer 104 than to fold over anintegral retainer, and the separate retainer also eliminates a flapportion, such as portion 300 at the back of the package. The lack of aretainer does, however, make it somewhat easier to open the package toremove the cassette, which, as pointed out above, is undesirable. Asimilar container can be used for the larger cartridge, such a containerbeing thicker and having no side retainers, but being of the same widthand length.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a container for the larger cartridge,constructed in accordance with still another embodiment of theinvention. In this container, an end retainer section 120 is used whichis integral with the panel 122 of cardboard that forms the rest of thecontainer. The panel includes rear and front walls 124, I26 and sidewalls 128, 130. The retainer section includes an inner portion 132 thatis glued to the rear wall 124, a middle portion 134 that extends betweenthe rear and front walls, and an outer portion 136 that is glued to thefront wall. The middle portion 134, which serves as an end retainer tokeep the cartridge at the upper end of the container, extends from aposition near the apertures to nearly the bottom of the container. Themiddle portion serves to brace the container to prevent its empty bottomportion from being pushed in. However, the container can be collapsedprior to receiving a cartridge, for more compact storage.

Thus the invention provides containers for tape cartridges whichfacilitates stacking and display for easy customer browsing in selfservice stores, yet which hampers theft. The containers are of low cost,and they enable two sizes of cartridge commonly distinguished by theterms cassettes" and cartridges", to be displayed in the same racks.

It may be noted that in all of the embodiments of the inventiondescribed above, the lower end retainer is not formed from any portionof the front, back or side walls that are located below the region wherethe cartridge is located. It would be possible to fold in portions ofthe front walls just below the cartridge to provide an end retainer, butthis would weaken the container. Instead, separate end retainers areused so that the container has front and back wall portions, and sidewall portions below the cartridge, which extend the full width andthickness, respectively, of the container.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variationsmay readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it isintended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications andequivalents.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for displaying a tape cartridge of predetermined length,width and thickness, said width being substantially less than 4 inches,comprising:

an elongated box having a width of at least 4 inches and a thicknessapproximately equal to that of the cartridge, said cartridge beingreceived in said box, said box having an aperture for displaying a faceof said cartridge; and at least one side retainer extending to aposition spaced from a side wall of the box and located within said boxfor confining said cartridge to a position within said box wherein aface of said cartridge is displayed through said aperture and forpreventing substantial sideward shifting of said cartridge within saidbox, whereby to prevent ready insertion of said box in a vest pocketwhile enabling efficient storage.

2. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein:

said box is longer than said cartridge and has walls with innersurfaces; and including an end retainer for holding said cartridgeagainst downward shifting, said end retainer comprising a sheet likeportion of material extending across the width of said box and orientedwith an edge against the bottom of the cartridge, said end retainerattached to the inner surfaces of opposite walls of said box.

3. Apparatus for resisting the theft of a tape cartridge ofpredetermined width, height, and length, while enabling its prominentdisplay comprising:

an elongated container with upper and lower ends, opposite faces, andopposite sides, said faces and sides having inner and outer surfaces,and having a length at least twice as great as the length of said tapecartridge and a width approximately equal to the width of saidcartridge, said container having an end retainer of sheet like formlocated therewithin with an upper edge at a distance from the upper endapproximately equal to the length of said cartridge, to hold saidcartridge at the upper end of said container so the lower end of saidcontainer is void of said cartridge, said end retainer extending from aninner surface of said container so that it does not leave a gap in theouter walls of said container at a position below said tape cartridge,and said container having an aperture formed in at least a first of saidfaces at a location between said end retainer and said upper end fordisplaying said cartridge.

at a location between said end retainer and said upper end fordisplaying said cartridge; and

said end retainer comprising a section of material which is integralwith one of said sides, said section including an inner portion attachedto the inside surface of the first of said faces, a middle portionextending across the inside of said container so that only its upperedge contacts said cartridge, and an outer portion attached to theinside surface of a second of said faces.

6. Apparatus for resisting the theft of a tape cartridge ofpredetermined width, height, and length, while enabling its prominentdisplay comprising:

an elongated container with upper and lower ends, opposite faces, andopposite sides and having a length at least twice as great as the lengthof said tape cartridge, said said end retainer prior to folding saidmain sheet into a box shape, and to cause said end retainer toautomatically assume a position to retain the tape cartridge at theupper end of the container when the main sheet is folded.

container having a lower end retainer located therewithin at a distancefrom the upper end approximately equal to the length of said cartridge,to hold said cartridge at the upper end of said container so the lowerend of said box is 5. Apparatus for resisting the theft of a tapecartridge of predetermined width, height, and length, while enabling itsprominent display comprising:

an elongated container with upper and lower ends, said convoid of saidcartridge, said end retainer extending from the inner surface of saidcontainer so that it does not leave a gap in the outer walls of saidcontainer at a position below said tape cartridge, and said containerhaving tainer including an integral main sheet having portions formingopposite faces, and opposite sides and having a length at least twice asgreat as the length of said tape cartridge, said container having an endretainer located therewith at a distance from the upper endapproximately equal to the length of said cartridge, to hold saidcartridge at the upper end of said container so the lower end of saidcontainer is void of said cartridge, said end retainer extending fromthe inner surface of said container so that it does not leave a gap inthe outer walls of said container at a position below said tapecartridge, and said container having an aperture formed in at least afirst of said faces an aperture formed in at least a first of said facesat a location between said lower end retainer and said upper end fordisplaying said cartridge;

said container also having a top end retainer portion in-

1. Apparatus for displaying a tape cartridge of predetermined length,width and thickness, said width being substantially less than 4 inches,comprising: an elongated box having a width of at least 4 inches and athickness approximately equal to that of the cartridge, said cartridgebeing received in said box, said box having an aperture for displaying aface of said cartridge; and at least one side retainer extending to aposition spaced from a side wall of the box and located within said boxfor confining said cartridge to a position within said box wherein aface of said cartridge is displayed through said aperture and forpreventing substantial sideward shifting of said cartridge within saidbox, whereby to prevent ready insertion of said box in a vest pocketwhile enabling efficient storage.
 2. The apparatus described in claim 1wherein: said box is longer than said cartridge and has walls with innersurfaces; and including an end retainer for holding said cartridgeagainst downward shifting, said end retainer comprising a sheet likeportion of material extending across the width of said box and orientedwith an edge against the bottom of the cartridge, said end retainerattached to the inner surfaces of opposite walls of said box. 3.Apparatus for resisting the theft of a tape cartridge of predeterminedwidth, height, and length, while enabling its prominent displaycomprising: an elongated container with upper and lower ends, oppositefaces, and opposite sides, said faces and sides having inner and outersurfaces, and having a length at least twice as great as the length ofsaid tape cartridge and a width approximately equal to the width of saidcartridge, said container having an end retainer of sheet like formlocated therewithin with an upper edge at a distance from the upper endapproximately equal to the length of said cartridge, to hold saidcartridge at the upper end of said container so the lower end of saidcontainer is void of said cartridge, said end retainer extending from aninner surface of said container so that it does not leave a gap in theouter walls of said container at a position below said tape cartridge,and said container having an aperture formed in at least a first of saidfaces at a location between said end retainer and said upper end fordisplaying said cartridge.
 4. The apparatus described in claim 1wherein: said container comprises an integral main sheet having portionsforming said faces and sides; and said end retainer comprises a piece ofmaterial having a first end portion fastened to the inner surface ofsaid first face, a second end portion fastened to the inner surface of aside of said container, and a middle portion between said end portionswhich has a folding line thereof, which is spaced from said faces andsides when said sheet is folded into a container form, whereby to enableattachment of said end retainer prior to folding said main sheet into abox shape, and to cause said end retainer to automatically assume aposition to retain the tape cartridge at the upper end of the containerwhen the main sheet is folded.
 5. Apparatus for resisting the theft of atape cartridge of predetermined width, height, and length, whileenabling its prominent display comprising: an elongated container withupper and lower ends, said container including an integral main sheethaving portions forming oPposite faces, and opposite sides and having alength at least twice as great as the length of said tape cartridge,said container having an end retainer located therewith at a distancefrom the upper end approximately equal to the length of said cartridge,to hold said cartridge at the upper end of said container so the lowerend of said container is void of said cartridge, said end retainerextending from the inner surface of said container so that it does notleave a gap in the outer walls of said container at a position belowsaid tape cartridge, and said container having an aperture formed in atleast a first of said faces at a location between said end retainer andsaid upper end for displaying said cartridge; and said end retainercomprising a section of material which is integral with one of saidsides, said section including an inner portion attached to the insidesurface of the first of said faces, a middle portion extending acrossthe inside of said container so that only its upper edge contacts saidcartridge, and an outer portion attached to the inside surface of asecond of said faces.
 6. Apparatus for resisting the theft of a tapecartridge of predetermined width, height, and length, while enabling itsprominent display comprising: an elongated container with upper andlower ends, opposite faces, and opposite sides and having a length atleast twice as great as the length of said tape cartridge, saidcontainer having a lower end retainer located therewithin at a distancefrom the upper end approximately equal to the length of said cartridge,to hold said cartridge at the upper end of said container so the lowerend of said box is void of said cartridge, said end retainer extendingfrom the inner surface of said container so that it does not leave a gapin the outer walls of said container at a position below said tapecartridge, and said container having an aperture formed in at least afirst of said faces at a location between said lower end retainer andsaid upper end for displaying said cartridge; said container also havinga top end retainer portion integral with said first face and formed fromat least part of the area of said aperture, said top end retainerportion extending upwardly from the upper end of said aperture along theinside of said first face and across the upper end of said container tosubstantially the face opposite said first face.